S.S.C. restructuring

Press, 19 April 1989, Page 2

S.S.C. restructuring

PA Wellington The office of the State Services Commission will be restructured, shedding about 120 jobs, and the commission itself will be altered to include community input. Announcing the Government’s plans yesterday, the Minister of State Services, Mr Rodger, said changes in the Public Service meant the commission’s role as the Public Services’ employer had been taken over by the chief executives of Government departments.

Under the State Sector Act, passed last year, the commission’s key role was

to act as the Government’s quality assurance agent. The commission has about 280 staff, but when restructuring was completed it was expected to have about 160, Mr Rodger said. A spokesman for the commission said it was too early to say whether any employees would become redundant. The whole issue would be discussed with the Public Service Association. The Chief Commissioner, Mr Don Hunn, had appointed a special team to manage the changes and the P.S.A. was being

consulted, • Mr Rodger said.

The commission’s training role would be phased out. The training and development branch would continue for another year, during which its future would be decided.

The commission’s main tasks in future would include checking Government departments for efficiency and effectiveness, appointing departmental chief executives and monitoring their performance, and advising the Government on corporate planning and State-sector industrial relations.